– According to Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu, they are not prepared to sign a driver solely based on their nationality. The 50-year-old emphasizes this in connection with the current partnership between the racing team and Toyota.
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As a Japanese corporation, the car manufacturer supports numerous drivers from the Land of the Rising Sun in various racing series. Some of them are currently part of the team’s development program.
“I was absolutely honest with Akio-san from day one to avoid any misunderstandings,” explains Komatsu in Belgium. Akio-san refers to Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda.
“If we sign a driver based on their nationality, it discredits everyone involved in that decision, including the driver themselves,” says Komatsu. “Because even if the driver possesses the necessary skills, everyone’s perception will be: ‘Oh, he’s only in the cockpit because of Toyota, because of the money,’ and that’s not right.”
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“That wouldn’t be good for Toyota and Akio-san, not for the Haas F1 team or the driver, it just doesn’t work. We’ve said that from day one and I’ve made myself clear to Akio-san. We select drivers 100 percent based on performance.”
The team principal explains that in case of doubt between two drivers with identical performance, factors such as nationality and the resulting financial opportunities can play a role. Nevertheless, Komatsu clearly emphasizes: “The main thing is performance.”
“We will never sign a driver who is slower just because they come from Japan or Italy or wherever. We don’t care about that. That’s what’s so outstanding about Formula 1, it’s so international! We shouldn’t bring such a local mindset into such an international, outstanding sport.”
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Recently, drivers such as Paul Aaron, Jack Doohan, or Ryo Hirakawa were associated with the team. The latter comes from the Toyota stable and has already been active for the brand in Super GT or WEC. At 32 years old, Hirakawa would, however, be an exceptionally old rookie should he ever get the chance to start for Haas.
In addition, Sho Tsuboi and Nirei Fukuzumi, two other drivers from the Toyota squad, will get the chance to test a Formula 1 car this summer. These two gentlemen would also be among the older generation should they ever debut in Grand Prix racing.
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The issue of nationality has often played a non-subordinate role in the signing of a team’s own driver duo. One only has to think of the Japanese team Super Aguri, which started in 2006 with Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide and presented itself as a national team on wheels.
Only Mr. Ide’s driving competence left much to be desired and already prompted a driver change after four races. The former Formula Nippon driver was eventually stripped of his Super License.
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Discussions about the driver pairing are nothing new at Haas. For some time now, rumors have been circulating that Esteban Ocon could lose his cockpit. According to the Haas driver, these are “f***ing irrelevant,” to use his words on the subject, but the question of the 2027 lineup remains unanswered.
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